The nation’s average 30-year fixed rate stayed this week at 3.55 percent, the same as last week, according to Freddie Mac. It is only .06 more than the record low 3.49 percent set in late July. The mortgage rate has remained below 4 percent for all but one week in 2012, according to Freddie Mac. Last year at this time, the average rate was at 4.09 percent.

Average interest rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages barely dropped to 2.85 percent this week -- after being at 2.86 percent the week before, Freddie Mac said. The 15-year fixed rate loan has averaged below 3 percent for 16 weeks. Last year at this time the average rate was at 3.3 percent.